Loose leaf holders



June 23, 1959 v E. w. ACITON 2,891,553

' LOOSE LEAF HOLDERS Filed Aug. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l l I l INVENTOR.

June 23, 1959 E. w. ACTON 2,391,553

- LOOSE LEAF HOLDERS Y Filed Aug. 24, 1956 z Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,891,553 LOOSE LEAF HOLDERS Edmond William Acton, Scarsdale, Nv. Application August 24, 1956, Serial No. 606,134 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-47 This invention relates to loose-leaf binders, and more particularly to those of the, type in which, a substantial number of leaves are. accommodated on rings, each of said rings being composedv of. two overlapping. prongs or segments adapted to have. theirends separated when inserting or removingv leaves.

It is one of the objects of the inventionto provide a binder in which the back. is composed of two. halves hingedly connected together down the longitudinal. center line. of the back to enable the halves to pivot inwardly or toward one another on said pivotal line when the binder is open to thereby enable the covers and leaves to. lie. flatly. It. is another object of the. invention to provide locking means by which the folding, movement. of the halves of theback in a direction toward one another will bev limited or, restricted insuch a manner. as reprevent inadvertent separation ofthesegments ofthe binder rings. It. is an object. of,.-the invention to provide alock- 'ing means for the halves. of the back which shall be manually. re c seable, when s des red b ing he halves ,of th hack toward oneanothertoan. extent as to ause ep ra i n of. h ring. segments when it, is. desired to, insert or remove one or moreleavesfrom the binder. s'an o j ct ofthe nyen n provide an ut matic o king m ns bvw c the ockin acti n. will. always become. c ve, pon o i g mov ment, f h overs f he binde c pl cesuc cck r gmeansgin. s. locked ond t on o. the eby. imi he op n ng. moveme of; th ind r. an preven dve ent ep ation or, the seameats.

It is still another, objet Ofthe invention to provide a binder with means which will positively prevent indre ten ep n, or cmp etecpen n mov ment of e i se en s cr pron hihmea s wi lautcma ic llyas m oc d ndi cnea h. ime ha t b nde c os d, d hich. s el b cf urdy co str c io Wit h se nd o her bjects. t be. he eina ter. set

et n i I have dev sed he rr n emen of pa ts a. e es i ed, nd m Particu r y p in e utj n the claims appended hereto.

theecc m enyi s aw s, whe ein n l ustra i mbod men cfthe n en on s sc sed.

Fi is a p p a ew. cf; l oseea binder w th the covers shown fragmentarily and, separatedfrom the back of the binder to more clearly disclose construction;

i 2v s. i en r d; end w. h n e w t a portion of one of the covers attached. to the back and e; mei na v mit d;

His 3 hc s e locking p at and ooper tin l t me r in the p ns ume y hem when h binder is opened fiat, as when resting upon a table or de k but wi e n e m n s em in g c ose as shown in Fig. 5.;

i 4 isa ce iewcfi h lidab a chm m e Eig. 5, is' an end. view of the binder showing how the am ppe w p nd. es nauncn a lat s rface;

s s J ne .3 "2 .9

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the binder in its fully open position, with the ring-segments separated and in leaf-receiving or leaf-detaching position;

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the latch member, looking at the same from the right of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a view of the locking means, showing the position assumed by the same when the parts thereof are in readiness to enable the binder to be moved to the fully open position of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view in section of one of the ring-segment anchoring strips.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, it will be noted that the back of the binder is composed of two sections or halves indicated respectively at 1 and 2. These halves are preferably, but not necessarily, composed of sheet metal, and are pivotally connected together down the longitudinal center line of the back by the hinge pin indicated at 6, extending through the. interfitting sleeves 7 and 8 formed: on the adjacent edges of the halves 1 and 2. This hinge permits the two halves 1 and 2 to assume various angular positions with respect to one another. For example; in Fig. 5 the binder is shown in the normal position assumed by it. when it is open for reading and when resting upon a flat. surface such as a desk or table. It will be therein seen that the two halves 1 and 2 are angularly positioned with respect. to one another, diverging dowriwardlyto'ward the. supporting surface from the hinge 6. The. locking means. to be described, and consisting -primarily of. the. notchedv plate 9 and sliding latch'member 10, when in locking relation, limit the. movement off'the halves of the back to the position shown in Fig. 5. 'In Fig. 6, the binder is shown in the. position necessary for the insertion or removal of 'the. leaves, wherein it will be noted that the ring-segments are. separated. 1

The halves orback sections 1 and 2 have. their. rear faces covered by suitable covered facingv elements, the portion. thereof extending over the half 1 being. indicated at 11, while. the portion thereof extending over the back. face. of. the half. 2 is shown at. 12. These two facing sections 11 and 12 are centrallyfconnected by. a flexible portion or hinge area 13. on which the. facings can freelv'fold to thus cooperate with the hinge 6. The halves. 1 and 2 are secured. to these facings by suitable fastening. elements, such as rivets, which are omitted. in the, drawings to simplify illustration.

Secured to the inner. face of the half or back. section by the rivets 1.7 isa channel strip 14. in which. the. base ends. of aplurality of. ring-segments 15 are mounted. Each of the ring-segments 15 passes through a hole in. the strip and, is headed as shown at 16, thev headsxlfi thereof. being confined in the channel of thestrip between said strip and the upper face of the half-1, A similar channel-shaped strip 18 is secured by rivets 19.to. theface of: the half 2, and the latter stripv 19. serves as an anchoragefor the ends of the ringrsegments shownvat 20., which segments have their heads 16a confined inthe channel of the strip 18 asexplained in connection with the ring-segments. 15. l

Formed integrally with the ring-segment retaining strips 14 and 18, are laterally-projecting lugs 21. having upturned ends 22, clearly shown inFig. 9, and. these lugs constitute cover stops to limit the pivotal movementsof the covers of thebinder ina manner to be. presently de, scribed. The back sections 1 andv 2 are provided with hinge sleeves 23, and each of the cover. sections ofithe binder, respectively shown at 24 and 25, is reinforced along one edge. by a cover-attaching strip 26 fastenedto the cover by means of therivets 27 or. similar fastening element-s. Each of thesestrips 24 and 25 has loops or sleeves. 28 which fit between the sleevesv 23, and-a hinge pin.2,9.is p s e h ou h he align d.sleeveseaand. 2

aeemss thus pivotally attaching the two covers 24 and 25 to the two sections of the back of the binder.

The lugs shown at 21 extend behind the strips 26 in a manner to stop or limit the outward swing of the covers from the back of the binder, the limit of such outward swing being substantially that shown by the cover 24 in Fig. 2. If pressure is imposed against the cover in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, the strip 26 on the cover 24-, exerting pressure against the upturned ends 22 of the lugs 21 on the channel strip 14, will pivotally move the half 1 to raised position or that shown in Fig. 6. The result is that when the binder is placed with its back flat upon a table or other supporting surface as shown in Fig. 2 and the two covers 24 and 25 are swung down to meet the surface of the table, the back of the binder will pivot or break on the pivotal point 6 and assume the position shown in Fig. at which time any leaves in the binder will lie flatly for easy reading.

The locking means for limiting the pivotal movement of the halves or back sections 1 and 2 of the binder toward one another includes a notched plate 9 with which the sliding latch 19 co-operates. The plate 9 is firmly fastened to the face of the back half 2 by the rivets 30 or by equivalent fastening elements. Formed in the plate 9 is an undercut notch 31 having its upper edge defined by an angular or inclined flange 32. At its opposite edge, and adjacent to the entrance of the notch 31, is an angular lug or lip 33. The slidable latch is provided with spaced slots 34 which receive pins 35 mounted in the half 1 and which permit manual slidable movement of the 'latch 10, permitted by the limits of slots 34. At its front end the latch 10 is formed with an inclined flange 36 against which the flange 32 operates in cam-like manner, and adjacent to the nose 37 of the latch is provided an out-turned lug 33 for co-operation with the lip 33 on the locking plate 9 in a manner to be described. At its end remote from the flange 36, the slidable latch 10 is provided with a laterally-bent finger-piece ill by which the latch is manually moved to released position in a manner to be described.

From the foregoing, the manner in which the binder is operative will be readily apparent. The positions which the locking elements 9 and iii assume when the binder is in its closed position, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be therein noted that the back of the binder is flat, or in other words, the two halves 1 and 2 of the back are disposed in the same plane. At this time the nose 37 of the latch it) is positioned within the notch 31 of the locking plate. The position of the nose of the slidable latch within the notch 31 as seen in Fig. 1 prevents slid ing movement of the latch. When the binder is opened to the position shown in Fig. 5, the plate 9 and latch 10 assume the same angular positions as do the halves l and 2 and as shown in Fig. 5. This causes the nose 37 of the latch to swing out of the notch 31 until the lug 38 contacts the angular lip 33 on the locking plate. This interengagement of the lug 38 and lip 33, as shown in Fig. 3, and in which the lip 33 acts as a stop, limits the pivotal movement of the halves El and 2 to the angular position of Fig. 5. When the binder is moved to its closed position of Fig. 2, the nose 37 of the latch it will swing back into the notch 31 or to the position shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to remove leaves from or insert leaves into the binder, it is necessary to cause separation of the ends of the ring-segments l5 and 2% to the extent indicated in Fig. 6. This is done by pivotally moving the halves 1 and 2 of the back toward one another to the extent indicated in Fig. 6. However, before such movement of the halves is possible, it is necessary to disengage the lug 38 from lip 33, or move the latch from the locked position of Fig. 3. This is done by engaging the latch 10 by its flngerpiece 4t and slidably advancing it in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 to the limit permitted by the slots 34. This sliding movement of the latch causes its lug 38 to be disengaged from the lip 33 and as shown 4 in Fig. 8, and the latch 10 and the plate 9 may now be separated to permit the two halves 1 and 2 to assume the sharply angular position shown in Fig. 6. In such position, the ends of the ring-segments l5 and 20 become spaced apart, permitting the leaves to be readily inserted on these ring segments.

After the leaves have been inserted or removed, it is not necessary to manually slide the latch to its former retracted position, since a restoration of the latch to its retracted locking position is automatically attained by merely closing or at least partly closing the binder. As the binder is moved toward closing position with the latch advanced as shown in Fig. 8, the inclined flange 32 on the locking plate 9 will act as a cam against the inclined flange 36 on the latch and will retract the latch to the position of Fig. l, to bring the nose of the latch in the notch 31 of the plate. When the binder is again opened to its normal position of use, as shown in Fig. 5, the interengagement of the lug 38 and lip 33 will occur, thus limiting the pivotal movement of the back halves 1 and 2 and in a direction toward one another, to the extent shown in Fig. 5. Should the latch 10, at any time after the binder has been placed in the position of Fig. 6, be left in its retracted position or With the pins 35 located at the upper ends of the slots 34, the closing of the binder will automatically cause the latch to he slid into its position of engagement with the notch. This occurs by reason of the fact that the angular lip 33 will act as a cam against the lug 38 and become effective to slidably advance the latch longitudinally to an extent necessary to bring the flange 36 against the cam flange 32 and cause the nose of the latch to be brought into the notch 31.

The operation of the binder is such that the opening of the same into position of use, as shown in Fig. 5, will cause inclination of the back sections to enable the leaves of the binder to lie flat. The interengagement of the latch and locking plate limit the pivotal movement of the back sections until this interengagement is freed by manual sliding movement of the latch, whereupon the binder is movable to the leaf-receiving or leaf-detachment position of Fig. 6. The closing of the binder, regardless of the position of the latch at the time of closing, will automatically cause the latch to assume its position of interengagement with the locking plate Having described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A loose leaf holder having a pair of pivotallyconnected back sections, a cover pivotally attached to each of said sections, releasable stop means for limiting the pivotal movement of the back sections in a direction toward one another, said stop means including a sliding latch having a hook at one end provided at one edge with an outwardly-extending inclined flange, said latch being slidably attached to the inside face of one of the back sections for longitudinal sliding movement thereon, said stop means also including a flat plate facially and fixedly attached to the inside face of the other back section, said fixed plate having a notch shaped to receive the hooked end of the latch, one end of the notch being defined by a longitudinally inclined flange forming a stop to limit sliding movement of the latch in one direction by contact with the flange on said latch while the back sections are disposed in the same plane and while the hooked end is positioned in the notch, the plate and latch having lugs which interengage when the binder is in such a position that its back sections are in angular relation and act to limit further pivotal movement of the back sections beyond such angular relation in a direction toward one another, the latch being manually longitudinally slidable when the binder is in the abovementioned position, to disengage the lugs and thereby permit further pivotal movement of the back sections.

2. A loose leaf holder having a pair of pivotallyconnected back sections, a cover pivotally attached to an edge of each of said back sections, a notched plate fixedly attached to one of the back sections, a latch attached to the face of the second back section, means for slidably mounting the latch on said second back section in a manner to permit of slidable movement of said latch longitudinally of the back section on which it is mounted, said latch having a forward end portion fitting into the notch when the back sections are disposed in the same plane, an inclined cam surface on the plate extending along one edge of the notch, an ear extending laterally from an opposite end of the notch, the slidable latch having an inclined flange on its forward end portion for engagement with the inclined cam surface during pivotal movement of the back sections in a direction away from one another to thereby cause the latch to be slidably moved to bring its forward end portion into the notch, the latch being provided with a lug for engagement with the ear on the plate while the end portion of the latch is located in the notch to thereby restrict the pivotal movement of the back sections in a direction toward one another.

3. A loose leaf holder comprising a back composed of two back sections hinged along a longitudinal center line, a cover pivotally attached to an edge of each of the back sections, a locking plate secured flatly and fixedly to the face of one of the back sections, a latch slidably secured to the face of the second back section and arranged for longitudinal sliding movement thereon, said locking plate having a notch in an edge facing the latch, said notch having an edge defined by an inclined flange forming a cam surface, the latch having a hook-shaped nose at one end of a shape conforming generally to the shape of the notch and received therein, said nose having an inclined flange at its forward end for co-operation with the flange on the locking plate to guide the nose of the latch into the notch upon pivotal movement of the back sections in a direction away from one another, the locking plate being provided at one edge with an extended, out-turned lip, the nose having an outturned lug on an edge opposite to its flanged edge for engaging behind the lug on the locking plate to restrict the pivotal movement of the back sections beyond a certain limit in a direction toward one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,256 Krah Mar. 14, 1899 2,071,767 Schade Feb. 23, 1937 2,553,872 Schade May 22, 1951 

